The two strange men continued to stomp their feet against the floor, each stomp rattling the wooden crate while their armor scraped against the wood with a loud, grating sound.
Odin let out a soft sigh and introduced them, his voice impossibly calm.
"These are the brothers Lumber and Gumber. They will be your commanders for this mission."
The atmosphere in the room plummeted. Shinji's group stood frozen, their eyes darting from the two weirdos to one another, wondering if this was all some elaborate joke. These men—who were neighing like horses and sitting in a crate—were supposed to lead them?
Lumber tilted his head toward Odin, his voice blunt and gruff.
"Hurry up. Our horses are hungry."
Odin handed him a carefully rolled map. Gumber barely glanced at it before casually tossing it onto the floor.
"I need food, not paper."
With that, he turned and marched toward the door, with Gumber waddling close behind. Seeing the look of pure disappointment and confusion on the group's faces, Odin spoke up to reassure them.
"Do not look at them with such disdain. Those two are candidates for the position of Squad Commander."
The group gasped in unison.
"Candidates? For which squad?"
"A Commander is retiring soon. They are the ones set to replace him."
"Who is the Commander that's leaving?"
Shinji blurted out the question. Odin looked at him for a second, then turned away without answering.
"Alright. Prepare to move out, warriors."
Odin pulled out a small metal device covered in clear glass and held it to his mouth.
"Tetsutaro, open the Eastern Gate for three minutes."
Before Shinji's group could process what was happening, Odin waved them away urgently.
"Move. In three minutes, the gate will lock."
Dreading the consequences of being left behind, the group bolted. Omelet quickly bent down to snatch up the map Lumber had discarded, clutching it to his chest as he sprinted after the others.
Meanwhile, at Military District 01, the atmosphere was a total contrast. Injured soldiers and those on break were lounging on benches, chatting and laughing, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Suddenly, a booming voice roared from outside.
"Grand Commander Prometheus has arrived! All warriors, report for reception immediately!"
The moment that name was called, faces turned pale. All relaxation vanished in an instant. Chairs were kicked aside, armor was buckled in a frenzy, and weapons were straightened.
"Move it! Do not let him see this!"
The new recruits of Squad 1 watched in bewilderment. They had never heard that name before.
"A Grand Commander? I've never seen one in person."
Looking down from above, the recruits saw the courtyard turn into a disturbed beehive, with soldiers running in a panic, desperate to bring everything into perfect order.
Back with Shinji's group, Lumber and Gumber had already vanished into the distance. The group struggled to chase them through the long, echoing steel corridors of Heavenfield.
While running, Akidou suddenly threw his hand out to stop Shinji. The group slowed from a sprint to a cautious walk. Shinji looked confused until Akidou pointed ahead.
A grand procession was moving through the main street. Citizens poured out of their homes, cheering and bowing in respect. Elite soldiers led the way, roughly shoving the crowds aside to clear a path.
Then, behind the lines of soldiers, a massive figure emerged.
He towered over everyone, his body appearing as if it were forged from steel and fire. A large scar ran down his right eye to his cheek. Flames licked the air around his body, and within his left eye, a bright blaze flickered unceasingly. His stern face and overwhelming aura made the very air feel like it was freezing.
This was Grand Commander Prometheus—the overseer of Military District 01.
Shinji's group stood perfectly still, instinctively raising their hands to their foreheads in a salute. As Prometheus passed, they were forced to move completely to the side; no one dared to breathe. Sweat trickled down Shinji's temple.
"His body... it's so hot."
Only when the Grand Commander's shadow had faded did the group dare to move again. Alba leaned down and whispered to Shinji.
"You haven't been here long, so listen: stay away from him."
"What? Why?"
"He will use violence on anyone without hesitation. He isn't easy-going like Ares or Umi."
With that, Alba picked up the pace. Ahead of them, a massive steel gate was slowly grinding shut. The group gave it everything they had, sliding through the gap just as the gate slammed shut behind them. They ran up a flight of stairs leading outside, and a sudden, blinding light washed over the floor.
One by one, they stepped out of Heavenfield.